Worcester Warriors Club Statement

Worcester Warriors has today (Friday) concluded a club investigation and taken disciplinary action following an incident at the end of the Guinness Premiership match with Leeds Carnegie on Sunday, April 25.

Club officials at Warriors, including General Manager Charlie Little, Team Manager Alun Carter and Company Secretary Louise Brook, met with first team players James Collins and Chris Cracknell for investigative and disciplinary meetings this week.

Both players have been found guilty by the club of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game of Rugby Union. James Collins has been found guilty of verbal abuse of a spectator and Chris Cracknell of physical abuse of a spectator.

The club has taken into consideration clear, unique and substantial mitigating circumstances – which remain confidential due to pending RFU disciplinary hearings – and the previous exemplary good record of both players.

Chris Cracknell joined Warriors in December and has quickly integrated himself into the club to become a popular and respected member of the squad. James Collins is a product of the Warriors Academy and has captained the Warriors A team on numerous occasions this season.

The club has now made the following decision:

James Collins has been given a written warning about his future conduct, which will remain on his personal file for 12 months, and fined.

Chris Cracknell has been given a final written warning about his future conduct, which remains on his personal file for 12 months, and fined. He has also been suspended by the club for a period of two weeks from the date of the incident.

The club has been notified of the RFU’s intention to charge both players with conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game of rugby. In light of this, Worcester Warriors and the players involved will make no further comment.